Tracadie, New Brunswick (NB) – May 11, 2026 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announces the 2026–2028 management measures and the opening dates for the 2026 commercial gaspereau fishery in Eastern New Brunswick (ENB). The fishing season for each water course was established in consultation with industry members. Details can be found in the attached Annex 1.
Catch Reporting Hail-In
All active licence holders are required to call 1-833-978-1605 to report their gaspareau landings for each day fished. Calls must be made:
- at the end of every fishing day or
- at the end of every week where fishing activities occurred. A week is defined as commencing at 00:01 hrs on Sunday and ending at 23:59 hrs on the following Saturday.
Fish harvesters will be required to provide the following information for each watercourse where fishing activities took place:
- licence number
- name of licence holder
- fishing area
- dates fished
- number and type of gear used
- quantity of gaspereau retained in pounds
- name and amount of every species incidentally caught, including shad
Reporting requirements are outlined in the licence conditions.
Costs related to the catch-reporting system are covered by DFO, with no cost to fishers.
Fishing Gear
Only trap nets or gill nets are authorized for commercial gaspereau harvesting. All fishing gear used in the fishery must be identified with the name of the licence holder or a licence number for Aboriginal organizations.
Incidental Catch
Gaspereau harvesters may retain shad incidentally caught with gaspereau fishing gear. All other species of fish incidentally caught shall be immediately returned to the place it was taken in a manner that causes the least harm.
For your information
Transport Canada recommends the use of yellow self-reflective tape around the poles and/or if possible, installation of solar lights to identify the fishing gear.
Annex 1
Opening dates for the 2026 Gaspereau commercial fishery in Eastern New Brunswick (ENB)
Tidal waters of NB bordering the Gulf of St. Lawrence (GSL) and Northumberland Strait, excluding the waters described below:
- Open season: Open from 6:00 p.m. on May 31 to 6:00 p.m. on June 28.
- Closure: No closure.
Tidal waters of the Caraquet Bay, Gloucester County:
- Open season: Open from 12:00 p.m. on May 25 to 12:00 p.m. on July 5.
- Closure: Closed every weekend from 12:00 p.m. each Saturday to 6:00 p.m. on the following Sunday.
Tidal waters of Lamèque Island and Miscou Island, Gloucester County:
- Open season: Open from 12:00 p.m. on May 24 to 12:00 p.m. on June 28.
- Closure: Closed from 12:00 p.m. on Saturday to 6:00 p.m. on the following Sunday during the weekends of May 30-31 and June 6-7.
Tidal waters of the Pokemouche River, Gloucester County:
- Open season: Open from 12:00 p.m. on May 17 to 12:00 p.m. on June 27.
- Closure: Closed every weekend from 12:00 p.m. each Saturday to 6:00 p.m. on the following Sunday.
Tidal waters of the Big Tracadie River and Portage River, (tributary of the Big Tracadie River), Gloucester County:
- Open season: Open from 12:00 p.m. on May 27 to 12:00 p.m. on July 1.
- Closure: Closed from 12:00 p.m. on Saturday to 6:00 p.m. on the following Sunday during the weekends of May 30-31 and June 6-7.
Tidal waters of the Little Tracadie River, Gloucester County:
- Open season: Open from 6:00 p.m. on May 31 to 6:00 p.m. on June 28.
- Closure: No closure.
Tidal waters of the Tabusintac River, Northumberland County:
- Open season: Open from 6:00 p.m. on May 27 to 6:00 p.m. on July 1
- Closure: Closed from 12:00 p.m. on Saturday to 6:00 p.m. on the following Sunday during the weekends of May 30-31 and June 6-7.
Tidal waters of Miramichi Bay, French River, Napan River, Northumberland County:
- Open season: Open from 6:00 p.m. on May 28 to 6:00 p.m. on June 25.
- Closure: No closure.
Tidal waters of Bay du Vin River, Northumberland County:
- Open season: Open from 6:00 p.m. on May 24 to 6:00 p.m. on June 21.
- Closure: No closure.
Tidal waters of Black River, Northumberland County:
- Open season: Open from 6:00 p.m. on May 21 to 6:00 p.m. on June 18.
- Closure: No closure.
Tidal waters of the Miramichi River, Northumberland County:
- Open season: Open from 4:00 p.m. on May 28 to 4:00 p.m. on June 25.
- Closure: No closure.
Tidal waters of the Eel River and Portage River (tributary of the Eel River), Northumberland County:
- Open season: Open from 6:00 p.m. on May 21 to 6:00 p.m. on June 18.
- Closure: No closure.
Tidal waters of the Northwest Miramichi and Southwest Miramichi Rivers, Northumberland County:
- Open season: Open from 6:00 p.m. on June 1 to 6:00 p.m. on June 29
- Closure: No closure
Tidal waters of Saint-Charles (Aldouane) River, Kent County:
- Open season: Open from 12:00 p.m. on May 22 to 12:00 p.m. on June 19.
- Closure: No closure.
Tidal waters of Kouchibouguacis River, Kent County:
- Open season: Open from 12:00 p.m. on May 26 to 12:00 p.m. on June 30.
- Closure: Closed from 12:00 p.m. on Saturday to 6:00 p.m. on the following Sunday during the weekends of May 30-31 and June 6-7.
Tidal waters of Kouchibouguac River, Kent County:
- Open season: Open from 6:00 p.m. on June 1 to 6:00 p.m. on June 29
- Closure: No closure.
Tidal waters of Richibucto Harbour and Richibucto River, Kent County:
- Open season: Open from 12:00 p.m. on May 19 to 12:00 p.m. on June 16.
- Closure: No closure.
Tidal waters of the Bouctouche River, Kent County:
- Open season: Open from 12:00 p.m. on June 2 to 12:00 p.m. on June 30.
- Closure: No closure.
Tidal waters of Cocagne Bay and Cocagne River, Kent County
- Open season: Open from 12:00 p.m. on June 1 to 12:00 p.m. on June 29.
- Closure: No closure.
Tidal waters of the Scoudouc River, Westmorland County:
- Open season: Open from 12:00 p.m. on June 5 to 12:00 p.m. on July 3.
- Closure: No closure.
Tidal waters of the Little Bouctouche River, Kent County:
- Open season: Open from 12:00 p.m. on June 1 to 12:00 p.m. on June 29.
- Closure: No closure.
Tidal waters of the Shediac River, Westmorland County:
- Open season: Open from 12:00 p.m. on May 30 to 12:00 p.m. on June 27.
- Closure: No closure.
Tidal waters of Aboujagane and Kouchibouguac Rivers, Westmorland County
- Open season: Open from 12:00 p.m. on May 28 to 12:00 p.m. on June 25.
- Closure: No closure.